Reel for electric irons



June 5, 1928. 1,672,509 B. F. P. VEDDER REEL FOR ELECTRIC IRONS Filed Nov. 11, 1926 2 SheetsSheet 2 f/kraa /g V' .5- E E I ELZUEF tory as the device required a modification Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNHARDT I. P. V'EDDER', OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

1 REEL FOR ELECTRIC, IRoNs.

, Application fiiea November 11, 1926. Serial No. 147,688.

This invention relates to a reel for an electric iron.

In using electric irons, difficulty has been experienced due to the trailing of the cord over the ironed material andiotherwise interfering with the free use of the iron ,Var-ious attempts have been made to overcome this defect by the use of reels, but these.

attempts have not proven wholly satisfacof the standard type of iron so asto adapt it to the use of the reel,

.This invention is designed. to overcome the defects noted above and objects ofsuch 5 invention are to provide a novel form of attachment in which a reel is provided on which the electric cord is wound, and in which the device is so constructed that it cooperates with the standard type .of electric iron in anovel .manner utilizing. primarily the terminals carriedrby the standard iron for supporting the device and providingmeans. for preventing theinadvertent Withdrawal of'the device. from the terminals.

Further objects are to provide; alsimple, easily produced attachment which may be very readily applied to a standard iron without modifying the; construction of the iron,.such device utilizing parts of they iron for locking it in place upon theterminal connectors of: the iron.

Further objects are to provide a device of the above nature in which the spring rewound reel may be held against rewinding,

when the. desired amount of cord haslbeen withdrawn from the reel, and to provide means of the nature of a ratchet which-may, berendered inoperative when desired, for

example, when it is desired to rewind the cord. In this manner, it is possible with this invention to withdraw the requisite amount of cord for the particular work in metal. This casing Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail of the terminal receiving portion of the device;

Figure 5 is a view showing the device in place upon an iron, and showing a part of the iron in section.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the attachment comprises a casing 1 which is preferably formed of stamped has a cylindrical outer portion provided with an outwardly recessed: part 2 immediately adjacent the peripheralportion of the reel 3. This reel is carried by suitable ball bearings a mounted upon a transversepin or bolt 5 which extends completely through the device. Preferably, the reel is formed of an insulating material and has a hub portion 6 which carries a pair of rings 7, suitable-brushes or fingers 8 being carried by an insulating block 9 mounted within the casingand hearing upon the insulating ring.

An electric cord 10 (see Figure 5) is wound upon the reel and extends outwardly through a cut-away portion ing rib 2 of the casing 1. The projecting portion allows additional room for the winding of the cord. The terminals of the cord are connected to the brushes 8, as indicated in Figure 2, and the other'end of the cord is attached to a plug 11 in the usual manner. The brushes are connected electrically to the terminal receiving portions or metal members 12 carried within a two-part insulating block 13, such block being secured to the casing in any suitable manner, preferably as in dicated'in Figure 1. This insulating block 13 projects downwardly and forwardly atan angle and the terminals of the iron which project upwardly and rearwardly at an angle in the standard types of irons are received within the sulating block is carried by an outwardly projecting arm 14 of a metal strip which is rigidly secured to the casing' This metal strip hasan outwardly projecting apertured members 12. The in of the project- 17 is replaced and serves to lock the device upon the terminals so that the device is very securely supported without altering the construction of the iron in any manner. The spring mechanism for rewinding the reel consists of a spring drum or casing 18 (see Figure 2) of standard construction. The rotary portion of this spring motor carries a large gear 19 which meshes with a pinion 2O rigid with the reel. Thus, a relatively long extension of the cord maybe had without unduly stressing the spring.

One. face of the reel 3, as may be seen from Figures 1 and 2, is provided with ratchet teeth 21 which may be engaged by the spring arm or leaf spring 22 carried within the casing 1. This spring arm is controlled by a thumb nut 23 which is secured loosely to the spring at its free end. The thumb nut projects outwardly through an aperture 24 formed in the casing and is provided with a flattened portion or shank, as indicated at 25. i This aperture 24;. is in reality a slot so that when the flattened portion is turned loi'lgitudinally of the slot, the stem of the thumb nut or thumb piece 23 is free to drop inwardly under the influence of the spring 22 and, consequently, the spring acts as a pawl for the ratchet teeth 21. However, when it is desired to render the pawl and ratchet mechanism inoperative, it

is merely necessary to raise the thumb piece 23 and give it a quarter turn. This causes the flattened portion 25 to rest crosswise of the slot and consequently hold the thumb piece and spring retracted.

In using the device, it is applied to the ironas previously described, and is securely locked in place upon the iron without altering the construction of the iron. A certain.

length of cord is pulled outwardly from the reel sufficient for the particular work in hand and the pawl and ratchetmechanism isreng dered operative, thus locking the cord against retraction. If additional amounts are required the pawl and ratchet mechanism permit the free unwinding of the cord,

but prevents its rewinding. However, when it is desired to rewind the cord it is merely piece 23,

necessary to manipulate the thumb as previously described.

In certain types of irons the handle is held to the uprights by means of screws or other fastening means. Iii this case, the attachment carried by the terminals is held in place against slipping from the'terminals by means of the screw or other securing means at the rear of the handle.

It will be seen that a very simple and serviceable type of spring ring has been provided which may be attached to standard electric irons with the minimum of effort. Further, it will be seen that the device does not interfere. with the free use of the iron, and yet maintains the correct length of cord as desired.

It will be seen further that the device operates very freely and does not in any way hamper the operator;

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended asillustrative rather than limiting as'the invention may be variously embodied and as the-scope of such invention is to be determinedasclaimed.

'1. An-attachment for an electric device providedwith terminals carried by said terminals, meansifor retaining said attachment in place and preventing its slipping-from saidterminals, a reel carried by said attachment, an electric cord woundupon said reel and connected to said terminals, and means for lockingsaid reel against rotation.

'2. Any attachment for an electric device provided with terminals secured to said device and connected to said terminals, a reel carried by said attachment, an electric cord 'wound' upon said reel and connected to said terminals, a spring tending to rewind said reel, and "means for temporarily preventing the rewinding of said reel. 3. An attachment for an electric device providedwith' terminals carried by said terminals and having a reel, an electric cord wound upon said reel, a spring tending to rewind said cord, said reel having a ratchet wheel, a pawl adapted torbe thrown into and out of'aperative position for preventing rewinding of the cord, and a thumb nut carried by said. spring and adapted. to lock said spring out of engagement with said ratchet wheel when said nut occupies one position of adjustment. V V

4. The combination of an electric iron provided with a pair of projecting terminals and having a pair of uprights, a handle positioned between said uprights, and securin'g means holding said handle to said up-' BERNHARDT- F. P. VEDDER. 

